What did the document signed in 2002 by the political Union “Ertoba” and “Edinstvo” consider?

For a while Mr. Jumber Patiashvili appears rarely on the screen and he does not pamper with his interviews the “writing journalists”. Though the political movement “Ertoba” the Chairmen of which Mr. Patiashvili and Alexander Chachia were, seriously influenced the society consciousness and pretended seriously for the official leading place in the political establishment of the country. Because of the pitiful practice which was celebrated and is celebrated in the governing of the Georgian state, the victory, the honestly deserved victory was filched of their hands. Did they give up? Did they make a “big break” or are they waiting for better times?

-          The impression is that you and the political movement “Ertoba” quitted politics.

(Mr. Jumber firstly tells about his partner and co-chairman Alexander Chachia, about his erudition, stability of the political course, adherence to the principles and his energy, underlining that it is impossible to extinguish the inner fire of Mr. Chachia and adds the below written)

- I don’t think that today a person, citizen of Georgia may stand beyond politics. But I do not observe the current processes in the country. It makes no sense to become active.

 The only feature similarly characterizing all the governments during last twenty years inherited – it is the search of the personality, of which they would create the face of the enemy, would “clean” their hands of him and not begin the practical activity to resolve the problem efficiently. Each citizen of Georgia should feel personal responsibility for that. I live with this responsibility.

- Does it mean that you stayed in the politics ?

- Yes, we did. Our political union is existing. The passiveness is explained by the relationship from the Georgian government side they showed us- non state, non democratic approach. First of all, it should be mentioned about the falsified results of the elections which totally ruined the political space of Georgia and affected our “Ertoba”.

 Those people who created this criminal system, they are on rise until today.

 I have not changed my political view and belief, the action program which I have announced during the presidential elections - it is in force.

- What is the main question ?

- Certainly, it is the construction of the democratic, economically strong, united Georgian state.

- It is included in everybody’s program.

- The methods are different. For example, we supposed and suppose that the main thing is the evasion of formation of Georgia as of the polygon of confrontation: Georgia should not become the field of the contradistinction between Russia and the United States of America.

Unfortunately, no one listened to this.

I think and it is not only me who thinks so, that the external politics of Georgia should be based over the balance principle. We should have the balanced politics with every country, among them with Russia, which, first, is our neighbor and meanwhile, historically we have been connected by many things.

Today when this question is arisen, those politicians rise who have never done anything and they begin creation of the picture which we have already mentioned and which is often supported by the impulsive actions of the country. I mean 5 day war in August 2008, which made us lose Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. I trust in God that we did not lose them finally. But today it seems as we did.

The economical development is one of the conditions of independence of the State, the begging for other countries is ruinous. The charter of the program of our Union is ignored by present Government.

I am sure, the return of our brothers- Abkhazians and Ossethians to common family of Georgia should be done by the means of immediate relationship.

Now I am reading the book by Egadze- «Летопись Грузии» in which the Georgian-Russian relationship during the Romanovs’ governance period is given in details. I am not sure that many of our politicians have read and studied this history. Instead of it they repeat the names of Orjonikidze and Makharadze by heart…

In short, the renewal of immediate relationship with Abkhazians and Ossethians is the first stage. The second stage is the complete activation of the Russian factor (with which I hope we renew the good neighbor relationship) – these are the main factors of the recreation of our territorial unity. 

- Today this relationship is totally broken and the participation in Geneva format turned into the formality.

- The renovation of the relationship with Abkhazians and Ossethians will be impossible for those people who have done many unacceptable things during this period.

I mean the both sides.

Objective estimation of the happened and the recognition of the mistakes will be the first step for the reconciliation.

If up to me, we have lost Abkhazia not on September 27, 1993 when we left Sukhumi but on August 14, 1992, when we entered it…

-You mentioned the necessity of the relationship with Russia. Your Union had quite close contacts with the North neighbor, you have even concluded the Agreement between “Ertoba” and Russian governing party group in Duma 8 years ago- on 2002 ? As I am aware, “Edinstvo” awarded you with the medal of honors.

- Yes, at that time we have concluded important agreement with the governing party of Russia. It was the first and very important historical document in the Georgian reality which could bring serious positive results. Besides the party, we have concluded the Agreement with State Council Faction “Edinstvo”, the chairman of which was the Hydro-construction engineer Pekhtin. This man admired Georgia and even helped us with the construction of Enguri hydro electric station. He thoroughly knew our system and understood how important it was-   good neighbor relationship of Russia with Georgia.

- You have made the basis for the betrayal and that’s it, Mr. Jumber.

- (Laughing) surely, if you may count the exchange of the students’ groups, bilateral visits of the scientists and the artists, considered by the Agreement, as a betrayal…

We have considered very interesting and necessary, mutually beneficial events. But after 2003 because of the known reasons, the relationship was cut off. Though in contrary to today that time the territorial unity of Georgia was unconditionally recognized by Russia. The question of the unification of the country was open: possibly effective relationship with Abkhazians, their visits, in all fields, especially the contacts in the agricultural and cultural fields and the cooperation- was paid special attention.

Russia had the role of the mediator in the decision of the problem. If Russia refused this noble affair, true intention of Russia would be revealed.

The thing is that there was no place for contradistinction. Contrary to it, step by step, the military bases were taken away from Georgia by Russia.

The worst thing is that our society is torn even in such a hurtful question. Have a look at these conflicts and those who feathered their nest in the process of the distinction of Georgia and made a pretty penny on it !

Those who never moved their hand for the prosperity of the country and who never worked, have appropriated the wealth of previous generations and made people starve. They made people beggars! They erased everything and everyone and directed the social opinion go the wrong way.

Who remembers, for example, the well-known constructor Shukri Abakelia. Several years ago I met him in Zugdidi and could hardly recognize him – this noble man has changed a lot.

I have nothing to share with Nogaideli but the Greens’ behavior at Hudoni hydro electric station - I wouldn’t love to use the word but wasn’t’ it the betrayal and the harm ?

It was incomprehensible for the leadership of the Soviet Union at that time why we were against the construction of Hudoni hydro electric station. Even today all Georgia depends on Enguri hydro electric station. Imagine what problem could be solved and how we would maintain all the energy fields and plants in agriculture if we had Hudoni hydro electric station and how much of hardship for the Georgian citizens would be evaded !

The Minister of Energy of the Soviet Union of that time sent his deputy to study the problem in Georgia on site. I invented the excuses that the infrastructure was not ready and it required the financing and etc…In one day 72 million rubles were allocated for the development of Svaneti region and the satisfaction of the population demands. According to the exchange rate for that time, it was the enormous sum. It happened on March 28, 1989.

- As you mentioned Abkhazia again, would you please tell me, is the solving the problem of Abkhazia the matter of time?

- I live with this hope and that’s the reason I’m still in the politics. But when – if we haven’t even the steps taken for that ?

Each day more and more alienates us from the Abkhazians and the Ossethians. The situation is recoverable by Russia. The politics of our Government do not consider these possibilities, what is very regrettable.

- The Agreement concluded by “Ertoba”, could it do good if we activated it ?

- I will make a hint: during this period Georgia has lost everything what was wished to be lost by definite forces in Georgia, Russia and even abroad.

The war in August reassured us that our conflicts can not be settled by the power methods. We reassured ourselves what we did not doubt before, but the intentions of our government are doubtful. 

And the last example:

Some of our ministers ran mad about the purchase of French Mistral Air by Russia- they supposed that the North aggressor purchased it to fight against Georgia. They aggravated and strengthened the assault rhetoric against Russia – by what we were always distinguished.

What is that- naïve self-confidence or evil provocation for new military confrontation?

Is it very difficult for Russia to begin the war without “Mistral”?

This is not only making wrong politics, this may become the pre-condition for a big tragedy. I have said and I repeat: the Georgian society has to act maximally wise for our country not to become the polygon of the contradistinction between Russia and the United States of America.

The politics of balance may be and should be implemented in Georgia.

Interview by

Armaz Saneblidze

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We understood that the Sun does not rise from the North. But from where is this North-West cold wind blowing, called Mistral in France ?